It’s a good feeling to be able to present a pipe by an old friend, Kurt Balleby. One wish is to get to Denmark once again and spend some time in that most calm and relaxing of countries. I always cherish my time there. The cares of the world seem to go away…there are about 6 million citizens of that nation, so it is too small to think it has to react, and cure the crises of the globe. I’ve long felt that if I had to live anywhere other than in the U.S., it would be Denmark, although to be fair, I have not spent long winters there. One time, though, I was there during the winter (probably for only a few days…visiting pipe makers including Kurt and his family) and walking through downtown Kolding (Kurt’s hometown) looking for a warm place to go in and get out of the frosty weather. I saw a cozy looking tea shop, populated mostly with women (the guys were probably congregating in a pub somewhere nearby) that looked so inviting that even tea seemed appealing. Upon being welcomed, and ushered to a table, I asked, if it would be possible to smoke a pipe inside. To my near astonishment, the answer was, “of course.” How could you not love a place like that?
The photos will show you that the straight grain goes 360 degrees around the bowl, with no appreciable drop off at the front or back. The condition is excellent. Judging the size is a bit more problematic because while the size of the bowl is Grp. 6, the thick walls make the chamber much smaller, even Grp. 4 size. The stem material is ebonite and the draw is wide-open.
5.15” long, bowl 1.9” tall. Weight: 1.5 oz., 44 grams.